I'm really, REALLY happy with pretty much everything they are now, but someone mentioned missing being able to fully explore their home as a point-and-click game, and GOSH is that true. I used to spend hours going through each room and clicking on everything. I'm sure someone has saved their house somewhere online, I'll have to see if i can track it down (or maybe post about it in a lost games forum somewhere to see if it's even possible to do). But i think they fully support themselves now, instead of needing to rely on a label for funding? Or something along those lines.... So if being able to tear through their rooms is the cost of them having total creative freedom, then that's okay ;;;; (what i wouldn't GIVE for a totally searchable Saturn barnz house though 👀)

Kind of an aside, but now that I'm thinking about then vs now--as someone who's been listening to them since the 90s, I'm SHOCKED (and delighted///) that they've managed to stay good AND relevant for so many decades. It makes me really happy that kids now can still have the same experience that I did of looking through all their weird shit and try to figure out what's going on. I'm SUPER happy too that they're still innovating and playing with new tech as it comes out. I didn't really realize how large a part of their brand that kind of experimentation was until they did the free concerts for Skinny Ape (and GEEZE I've listened to all their albums, you'd think it would have clicked much faster...)

I'm really glad they never just kinda sat in one spot and stayed there ;; I think all my favorite songs are from later albums too, so like--even if that's just for selfish, personal reasons, I'm happy they kept trying new things XD

Edit, they at least tried to get some of their old exploration games back up!! I'm on my phone right now and can't tell if any of this still works, but: https://www.reddit.com/r/gorillaz/comments/f9tg4x/how_to_enter_phase_1_kong_studios_redeveloped_by/ And you COULD explore the Spirit House?? I know i spent a LONG ass time going through it with the 360° Saturn Barnz video, but what I'm finding sounds different..... AND APPARENTLY YOU COULD HAVE ACTUALLY WALKED THROUGH IT FOR AN IRL INSTALLATION?!! 😭😭😭😭😭 I'm so sad I didn't realize either of those existed... I'm gonna download the app later on and see what else I'm missing out on, I think it's a lot ;;